Nelle carte d'archivio salentine… sulle orme della misericordia

In the past, the hospital had special meaning; it was the institution inspired by the need to help spiritually and materially our community of similar individuals, according to the commandment of love for neighbor. The original purpose of this organization was as a 'homeless shelter' for paupers. In this essay, the Archival sources that have being examined, belong to the Record Office of State in Lecce: "Congregazioni di Carità. Ospedale di San Giovanni d'Aymo o dello Spirito Santo". These ancient papers show the corporal and spiritual works mercy set up by laymen and ecclesiastics with the purpose of realizing the evangelical precepts. By testamentary dispositions, the concern for the soul's health is the 'leitmotiv' of will-wills. The motivations that encouraged the believers to weigh in with bequests, donation and charity, for the institutes actively involved in a case of the weaks, they were inspired by the works of mercy. This practice, however, was not only aimed at the improvement of the sufferings of the weaker, but also (and sometimes above all) to get an edge in this life and in the afterlife. The hope of the eternal and the redemption of the human condition, through donations to the places of worship and pious, that were more closely related to the individual, for someone felt at least a requirement, in view of the fact of the the afterlife. Did anybody donate to save the soul, or to real mercy towards to the poor? It is difficult to establish it!